collocation · neutral

traffic jam

/ˈtræf.ɪk dʒæm/TRAF·fic JAM

Band 4-5speakingtask2

A situation in which vehicles are so crowded that they cannot move easily.

Examples

I was delayed by a traffic jam on the highway.

Traffic jams are common during holiday weekends.

They planned to leave early to avoid traffic jams.

Band 8 sentence

Commuters frequently get delayed by traffic jams during peak hours, which highlights the need for better public transport.

Collocations

  • get stuck in a traffic jam
  • heavy traffic jam

Word family

traffic (n.) nounjam (n.) noun

Common mistakes

There are many traffic jam today.There are many traffic jams today.

I met a traffic jam.I encountered a traffic jam / I got stuck in a traffic jam

Say it for a higher band

5jam6congestion7+traffic jam

Synonyms

traffic congestion

Easily confused

traffic congestion

The report highlighted traffic congestion as a major problem in the city centre.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Transport & Traffic

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